December’s Top 2022 Performances

<p>With the first month of the high school season over, we take a look back at some of the top performers and performances over the month. While there have been plenty of big time performances, these 7 players have really put up big numbers either in a game or in multiple games, and we recognize them for their hot starts to the season.</p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Donald Hand Jr. | 6’5” CG | Landstown 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Hand.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1012360" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/Hand-243x300.png" alt="" width="243" height="300" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Hand has had a number of big time performances so far this year, as it seems like every time he steps on the floor he’s scoring it at a ridiculous rate. One of the top scorers in the state, Hand is able to fill it up from all over the floor, creates contact and gets to the line well and with his size he’s able to hit contested shots on and off the ball. Just some of his top performances include 29 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in a win over Salem (VB); 38 points in a win over Bayside; 40 points in a win over Petersburg; 36 points and 8 rebounds in win over John Marshall; 28 points in buzzer beater loss to LC Bird.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="603823" first="Xavier" last="Brown"] | 6’2” PG | Jamestown 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Brown-Xavier.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1189339" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Brown-Xavier-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Brown sure made a statement when he returned to Jamestown from Oak Hill, showing why he’s one of the best guards in the state and one of the best available guards you’ll find around. He’s a super athletic guard that plays with a high motor, is able to make plays for himself and others off the bounce and stuffs the stat sheet across the board on both ends of the floor. In his first game back he had a near triple-double in their win over Smithfield going for 43 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds, and is averaging around 30 points, and 8 assists and rebounds per game so far this year.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="815577" first="Maliq" last="Brown"] | 6’8” PF | Blue Ridge 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Brown-Maliq-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1149220" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Brown-Maliq-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Some have questioned Brown’s offensive ability in the past, but with him being the go-to guy on this year’s Blue Ridge team he’s shown that he can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He’s had some big time performances as Blue Ridge has looked like one of the best teams in the state so far this year. Some of his top performances include a 14 points, 9 rebound, 8 assist performance in a win over Roanoke Catholic; 22 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals in win over STAB; 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks in a loss to Bishop Ireton; 14 points and 10 rebounds against Episcopal Academy and many more impressive showings.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="962794" first="Elijah" last="White"] | 5’10” PG | Kempsville 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/White-Elijah.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1094410" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/12/White-Elijah-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">When it comes to single game performances, White has had one of the most impressive overall performances of the year when Kempsville had a shocking blowout win over Jamestown in the Iverson Crossover Classic. The 5’10” guard may not be the biggest guy on the floor but he played like it as he made tough shots, ran the show for his team and stuffed the stat sheet. He finished with a triple-double of 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the win.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="815584" first="Keyontae" last="Lewis"] | 6’9” C | LC Bird 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Lewis-Keyontae-CBG.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1302353" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Lewis-Keyontae-CBG-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Lewis has really brought it for the undefeated Skyhawks so far this season, showing he’s one of the most underrated big men in the state and a guy division one coaches need to look at. Since slimming down over the summer and preseason, Lewis is flying all over the place rebounding at a high clip and still showing the power and touch to dominate in the paint. Some of his top performances include 15 points and 13 rebounds in win against Monacan; 18 points and 12 rebounds in win against Cosby; 14 points and 15 rebounds in wing against Highland Springs; 18 points and 12 rebounds in win against Lake Taylor.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="736190" first="Jaden" last="Daughtry"] | 6’6” WF | Benedictine 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Daughtry-Jaden-Ben.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1307736" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Daughtry-Jaden-Ben-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Daughtry has been playing at a high level all season for Benedictine so far, and he’s likely going to be in the running for Richmond All-Met Player of the Year if he continues to put up numbers like he has. The strong and athletic forward can get it done in so many different ways whether it’s handling in transition and getting downhill to finish, knocking down shots from deep or rebounding and getting extra opportunities. He opened the season with a 40 ball against VES and has dominated all season with multiple double-doubles and was named MVP of the Atlantic Shores Holiday Tournament.</span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">[player_tooltip player_id="815612" first="Walker" last="Andrews"] | 5’11” WG | VES 2022</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Andrews-Walker.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1316275" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/10/Andrews-Walker-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Andrews and his VES team have played a very tough schedule so far this year, and he’s one of the hottest scorers in the state to start the season. The available guard has been known as a knock down shooter with a quick release and deep range, but he’s rounded his scoring ability out and his scrappy style of play has led to some big numbers. Some of his top performances include 34 points against ISA (OH); 21 points against Benedictine; 22 points against Charlotte Christian (NC); 24 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists against Moravian Prep (NC); 23 points against Combine (NC); 23 points against Wake Tech (NC); 25 points and 5 assists against Winston-Salem Christian (NC).</span></p>